JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Evolution of Discrimination in Online Markets: How the Rise in Anti-Asian Bias Affected Airbnb During the Pandemic.

  • Published In: Marketing Science (INFORMS), 2026, v. 45, n. 1. P. 108 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Luca, Michael; Pronkina, Elizaveta; Rossi, Michelangelo 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines the surge in anti-Asian discrimination on Airbnb during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on short-term rental hosts in New York City. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach, it finds that hosts with distinctively Asian names experienced a 20% decline in guests relative to White hosts, resulting in estimated monthly revenue losses between $180 and $330. The study rules out alternative explanations such as host-guest homophily or supply-side changes and finds no similar discrimination spikes against Black or Hispanic hosts, indicating the effect is specific to anti-Asian bias during the pandemic. The findings highlight how societal crises and political rhetoric can exacerbate market discrimination and underscore the role of platform design—such as Airbnb’s display of host names and photos—in facilitating or mitigating such bias.

Additional Information

  • Source:Marketing Science (INFORMS). 2026/01, Vol. 45, Issue 1, p108
  • Document Type:Abstract
  • Subject Area:Science
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0732-2399
  • DOI:10.1287/mksc.2023.0112
  • Accession Number:190804495
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Marketing Science (INFORMS) is the property of INFORMS: Institute for Operations Research & the Management Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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